One of the great things about the automotive industry is the hundreds of the technological improvements we have seen since the birth of the automobile - from safety, to design, to engine efficiency to entertainment modules and even racing. And one of the great things about this nation is the entrepreneurial spirit that comes from engineers when faced with a problem that can impact our dependence with automotive vehicles - i.e. high fuel prices, national security and environmental issues.

Recently, this spirit has transformed from what was only an idea into what could become a reality for the next generation of gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles - the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).

Let's face it, gasoline-hybrid electric vehicles are going to be around for a long time. So why not improve upon the technology that we already use? PHEVs (which were brought to my attention during the Automotive Training Mangers Council spring conference in April) are outfitted with an improved, rechargeable battery pack that can power the vehicle from 20 to 60 miles on battery charge alone. If you consider that 50% of the cars on America's roads are driven 25 miles a day or less, a plug-in with a 25-mile range battery could just about eliminate gasoline use in the daily commute of millions of Americans. With these vehicles, researchers say the cost of an equivalent electric gallon of gas is estimated to be less than $1!

According to ...